WuLabsWuTecH
Forum Deputy Chief
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Am I spoiled at my agency? As a basic I can administer non-prescribed epi-pens to patients in anaphylaxis, can get a medic while loading the patient in under five minutes if I'm on a BLS or ILS ambulance, only have a 2-15 minutes drive to the hospital depending where we are coming from and how we are getting there, and I don't need to contact online medical direction for over 95% of my treatments.
I think we both are. Only ALS units are left more or less in my county. Average response time of 4 minutes. Average time to hospital is 5 minutes. Average time to one of the trauma centers is 8-10 minutes.
Basics can give Epi (IM or Sub-Q), ASA, charcoal, glucose.
Sounds like NM EMT-Bs... way too much scope for so little training.
You won't like me running 12 leads, CPAPs, and dropping an OTT much then!
Epi-Pens aren't too much for a basic... in PA we have em as primary use onboard the units. Before an EMT can administer, they have to call medical command. Anaphylaxis is a condition where a patient needs epi NOW and not 20 minutes later when ALS arrives. Not all areas are blessed to have Paramedic ambulances.
Some areas still run an out dated two-tier response system.
Agreed, EPI is one of those that minutes makes a difference.
Exactly.
ASA, Epi-pens and oral glucose is the norm around here.
Yep!